Chipotle Copycat Recipes You Can Finally Make At Home
For a quick-service restaurant, Chipotle sure knows how to serve up delicious and satisfying food. Whatever you decide to order — whether it's burritos, tacos, burrito bowls, or salads, with chicken, steak, barbacoa, carnitas, or veggies — Chipotle's flavors are undeniably tasty. But sometimes, you'd much rather remain comfy at home rather than opting to grab something out. (We've all been there.) So instead of making yourself the same old chicken and rice dish, how about whipping up Chipotle chicken and rice or the food chain's iconic guacamole right in your own kitchen?
Our intrepid recipe developers here at Mashed have done the difficult task of trial-and-error taste testing in order to develop several copycat recipes of your favorite Chipotle menu items. So whether driving to the restaurant seems like a monumental task or you're looking to improve your cooking skills, these are a few Chipotle recipes you can make at home.
Copycat Chipotle guacamole
Everybody has their own tried-and-true guacamole recipe, so pardon us if we're intruding. But whether you're looking to perfect your own recipe or you're simply curious about how the professionals do it, our copycat Chipotle guacamole recipe is for you. The recipe is so simple that even the most amateur chef can get through it with out breaking a sweat.
When it comes to the ingredients, aside from the avocados, you may already have everything at home. You'll need lemon juice, lime juice, black pepper, sea salt, chopped red onion, and cilantro. Once everything's collected, there are only a couple steps to follow. Scoop the avocado "meat" into a bowl, and mash. Stir in all the other ingredients. Eat the tasty results as soon as possible.
Chips and guac is a classic snack food, but chef and recipe developer Susan Olayinka reminds us that by only using guacamole as a dipping condiment, we're really missing out. Some of Olayinka's suggestions include putting guacamole in tacos and burritos, piling it on sweet potatoes or steak, adding it over your French fries, and spreading it onto toast. The possibilities are endless.
Chipotle copycat barbacoa
Warning: This recipe is not for the faint of heart. It will take you about four hours. But if you're feeling hungry and ambitious, let the preparation begin.
Depending on where you are and who you ask, there are numerous types of barbacoa, ranging from the type of meat used to the preparation style. Based on Chipotle's website, we know they use beef, and while we don't specifically know the spices used in their barbacoa, we do know they are included in their list of ingredients. It took a lot of taste tasting, but we believe we got it right with our Chipotle copycat barbacoa recipe. The secret spice mixture includes salt, black pepper, garlic, pureed chipotles in adobo, chile powder, ground cumin, dried oregano, ground cloves, and bay leaves.
After simmering the seasoned chuck roast in a Dutch oven until browned on each side, reduce the heat, cover, and let it cook for 3.5 hours. Yes, it takes some time, but once you take your first bite, you'll know it was worth it.
Copycat Chipotle rice
While most people likely do not go to Chipotle for the rice, never underestimate the importance of a supporting cast member. Chipotle's cilantro lime rice adds a tangy flavor and a soft texture to a burrito or burrito bowl, perfectly complementing whatever star ingredients are served alongside it.
So how does one make this rice at home? Let our copycat Chipotle rice recipe show you the way. The most important part is choosing the correct type of rice. Chipotle uses long-grain white rice, which has a fluffy texture when cooked.
The cooking instructions are fairly similar to any other type of rice, but just remember to add the bay leaf. Once it's done, add salt, cilantro, lime juice, and lemon juice, and you're set to enjoy.
Copycat Chipotle dressing
It's rare that a restaurant becomes known for its dressing. But that speaks volumes to how awesome Chipotle is at developing flavors. The restaurant chain's smokey, sweet, honeyed vinaigrette dressing can be added to anything from salads to tacos to chips.
If your mouth is already watering, it's time to make this dressing. Our copycat Chipotle dressing recipe can be put together in five minutes, start to finish. The only prep time needed is to gather the ingredients, which include red wine vinegar, honey, olive oil, dried oregano, salt, black pepper, cumin, garlic powder, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, and adobo sauce. Combine all these in a blender or food processor, and blend until smooth. Just like that, you have your new favorite dressing.
Copycat Chipotle chicken
Chicken is a great source of protein, but it rarely comes across as the most exciting menu item. That doesn't mean it should be overlooked. You just need to find creative ways to kick it up a notch or two. That's precisely what Chipotle does by serving up juicy, tender, and most importantly, flavorful chicken.
The good news is that our copycat Chipotle chicken recipe teaches you how to replicate Chipotle chicken right at home. Our research tells us the restaurant uses dark meat, so opt for boneless skinless chicken thighs. Coat these pieces in your homemade marinade — a flavorful combination of garlic, oil, vinegar, pureed chipotles, chili powder, cumin, dried oregano, water, salt, and pepper — and refrigerate for 30 minutes. You only need to cook the chicken for about 10-15 minutes. Then let it sit for 10 more minutes, and serve.
This chicken is perfect for burritos, tacos, and quesadillas, but don't be afraid to add it to ramen, chicken salad, or even a spicy pot pie.